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A power cell system with means for detecting a discontinuity

a power cell and discontinuity technology, applied in secondary cells, electrochemical generators, instruments, etc., can solve the problems of complex connectivity check, affecting the function of appliances, and consuming a lot of resources, and achieve the effect of simple and cheap means of monitoring

Active Publication Date: 2011-12-29
VLAAMSE INSTELLING VOOR TECHNOLOGISCH ONDERZOEK NV VITO
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The invention provides a device and method for detecting discontinuities in electrical connections to power cells in a power cell system, such as fuel cells, batteries, or electrolytic cells. The device includes a plurality of first resistances connected in a ladder circuit with the power cells, and electronic filters each with a first connection to a first resistance. The electronic filters have a second resistance and a charge storage device connected to the second resistance. The device can detect discontinuities at zero volts, making it simpler and cheaper than previous methods. The invention also provides a simplified and cost-effective way to monitor the connection between the power cells and the electronic filters.

Problems solved by technology

In case of a discontinuity in the electricity supply the applied voltage to the appliance is lowered and therefore the function of the appliance is affected.
Even worse, the fuel may be supplied to a fuel cell even though it is not functioning correctly.
As the fuel is not consumed there is a danger it may be exhausted to the environment.
Since each of the low-pass filters are provided with a separate voltage supply, two switches are needed to charge and discharge the capacitance of the low-pass filters, which makes a connectivity check complex and expensive.
A disadvantage of this embodiment is that only the voltage of a fuel cell portion compared to the ground can be measured and not the voltage of a single fuel cell, which makes it difficult to localize the discontinuity in one of the wires.

Method used

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  • A power cell system with means for detecting a discontinuity
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first embodiment

[0040]The present invention provides a device for detecting connectivity failures in wires for connecting to a power cell system. The present invention also provides a power cell system having such a means for detecting connectivity in wiring to the cells. FIG. 1 shows a circuit of a power cell, e.g. a fuel cell, electrolytic cell or battery system 1.1 according to the present invention which can be used with a device for detecting connectivity in the CVM. Power cells according to the embodiments of the present invention can be used in a wide variety of application, for example, to power automotive vehicles such as buses, cars, motobicycles, scooters, bicycles; or boats, trains, vending machines, vacuum cleaners, motorway road signs, electronic devices, hospital equipment, wastewater treatment plants, etc.

[0041]Reference will be made in the following to fuel cells but the present invention is not limited thereto. For each reference to a “fuel cell” the term “cell” can be used whereb...

third embodiment

[0053]Since the voltage of a fuel cell can drop to the value of 0 V, a connectivity check according to FIG. 1 and / or FIG. 2 might give false results. In this case a circuit of a power cell, e.g. fuel cell system 1.3 according the present invention as shown to FIG. 3 can be used, where the second pole, e.g. the positive pole of an external voltage source 9 is connected to each of the switches 8.1, 8.2 and 8.3 and the first pole, e.g. negative pole of the external voltage source 9 is connected to the grounding resistance 6. Again the output voltage of the external voltage source 9 can be of any arbitrary voltage. The first to third charge storage devices, e.g. first capacitance 4.1.1, the second capacitance 4.2.1 and the third capacitance 4.3.1 are all connected between the corresponding resistance 4.1.2, 4.2.2 and 4.2.3 and the ground, instead of being connected to the output of the adjacent low-pass filter, which is the case for the circuits 1.1 and 1.2 corresponding to FIG. 1 and F...

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Abstract

A power cell system such as a fuel cell system, with apparatus for detecting a discontinuity. A power cell system, e.g. a fuel cell system, includes a plurality of power cells, e.g. fuel cells and plurality of first resistances, the plurality of power cells and first resistances being connected in the form of a ladder circuit, and electronic filters each having a first connection to a first node between two of the first resistances, each electronic filter having a second resistance and a charge storage device connected to the second resistance.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates to the field of electrical power cells such as fuel cell or battery systems, and to means for monitoring the power cells and means for detecting a discontinuity in the monitoring means, especially for detecting an open circuit in a wire or cable of the monitoring means.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Generally DC power supplies such as fuel cells or batteries only have a low voltage difference per cell. This means the batteries or cells are often connected in series in order to obtain a useful working voltage. It is customary to provide some form of monitoring circuit for such a chain or ladder of cells.[0003]A fuel cell is a device, which converts chemical energy into electrical energy, where the functionality is as follows: A fuel on the anode side and an oxidant on the cathode side react in the presence of an electrolyte generating a charge difference between the anode side and the cathode side. An appliance can now be co...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & Authority Applications(United States)
IPC IPC(8): G01N27/416
CPCG01R31/026G01R31/2829G01R31/3658H01M8/04559Y02E60/50H01M10/425H01M10/482H01M16/003H01M2008/1095H01M8/04679G01R31/396G01R31/54G01R31/52Y02E60/10G01R31/3835
Inventor COENEN, PETER
Owner VLAAMSE INSTELLING VOOR TECHNOLOGISCH ONDERZOEK NV VITO
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